| Your salt-based water softener can dump up to 500 | | | | soften your water. Like the other two approaches, |
| pounds of salt into the environment each year, so | | | | this type also only minimizes scale buildup in your |
| salt-free free solutions to this environmental problem | | | | plumbing. But the U.S. government has some positive |
| seem like a good idea. Salt is also damaging to some | | | | things to say about the potential of this type of |
| metals like galvanized pipe and the last thing most | | | | system. |
| people want or need is a major repair on their water | | | | - Catalytic Media systems use a filter media type that |
| supply system. Because of the minimal negative | | | | chemically alters and/or traps hard water compounds. |
| effect on the environment, salt-free water softening | | | | Ceramic filter types are similar to what backpackers |
| systems are at least worth doing some research on | | | | have been using for years and are usually effective |
| before spending your hard earned money. | | | | to the size of cryptosporidium which is a nasty |
| Types of Salt-Free Water Softeners | | | | paramecium that is found in streams where there is |
| - Electric water softeners are said, by their | | | | also wildlife around. One ceramic filter system insists it |
| manufacturers, to send an electric pulse through the | | | | is a durable, long-life system because the filter's |
| water that prevents scaling. There is no real claim | | | | catalyst is a non-sacrificial type. One could argue that |
| that it will remove dissolved metals that cause hard | | | | since the introduction of a true catalyst in chemical |
| water, just that it will reduce scale buildup. | | | | reactions is for the purpose of enhancing a reaction, |
| - Magnetic water softeners are mostly claimed to | | | | how could this really be a catalyst? Or if it is, then |
| reduce scale buildup in your pipes. Just wrap a couple | | | | what is the chemistry behind the non-sacrificial |
| of magnets at about $200 each around your pipes | | | | reaction? Suffice it to say that a ceramic filter of high |
| and some distributors claim that your plants will thrive | | | | quality will have a long life but will need some cleaning |
| better, some diseases will be prevented, and, oh | | | | maintenance and its filtration ability will be limited to |
| yeah, it will soften your water, too. Well not really | | | | its pore size. The ceramic filter's ability to filter viral |
| soften your water because it doesn't remove any | | | | material might be a major feature for some people. |
| dissolved metals, but make your water feel softer | | | | - Reverse Osmosis is a non-salt based system that |
| and act softer. Sorry, but the scientific support for | | | | was first developed for the purpose of desalinization |
| these claims cannot always be replicated when | | | | of sea water to become pure drinking water. It has |
| discovered by one scientist and the actual studies are | | | | considerable limitations, but is easier on the |
| somewhat ambiguous and even anecdotal in nature. | | | | environment than salt-based water softener systems. |
| - Electro-magnetic water softeners are just a magnet | | | | Reverse osmosis has been a proven solution to |
| with an electrical current added. Sort of like combining | | | | providing high quality pure drinking water for about |
| the two just above. Not surprisingly, these devices | | | | 40 years. |
| are not claimed by most distributors to actually | | | | |